Notes / Commercial Description:
It’s often said there is a better half responsible for making us whole, and so goes the inspiration for this ale. Its whole is born from a single recipe of 2-row pilsner, caramel, honey malts and cereal grains that balance with Cascade, Mt. Hood and Saaz hops. One half of the fermentation is cold lagered and the remaining half is finished as a warm ale fermentation. The result is a smooth and composed imperial cream ale well suited for contemplating your better half.

preamble...
the first time I heard of an imperial cream ale was some years ago at the 3 floyds brew pub (a friend's brother lives in those parts), since then this is still a reluctant beast for most breweries. so with no further waste of time let's see what this thing is about

eyes...
practically glowing orange, a nice white cap of about one finger of cream, the head fades quick but there is an ample army of antagonized bubbles boiling toward the surface, lacing is spotty but some legs are in there from the kicked up alcohol presence, put this near the top of a light and it almost looks like the pool that killed the terminator in T2, james cameron ain't got nothing on this...

taste etc...
pretty devilish mouth feel, at once creamy and smooth but with just a pin prick of brisk carbonation, a sort of strange sweet-bitterness, definite kick in the north of groin area from the alkeehall, the best part of this brew is definitely the mouth feel... nearly flawless there... but (and you knew that was coming) the flavor is definitely too sweet for this taster, there is a little bitter finish that saves this from utter cloy-dom but this is not something I would reach for.

verdict?
credit for going for it in a style rarely seen around these parts but the flavor is not my bag.. of chips

Cream Ales, an ale/lager hybrid of sorts, are greatly underrepresented and often misunderstood. Slumbrew reminds us how fun the style can be with their dangerously delicious Imperalized interpretation; a cold lager blended with a warm ale. Perhaps a bit too sweet, but the complexity and sheer drinkability quickly forgives and forgets.

I am not a huge fan of this style, I will point out at first, but please don't think that fact figured into my scoring as I found this to be a pleasing but not too great beer.
The look and smell are pretty good - seethrough orangeish body with two-finger head that dies quick with lace patches on glass and a mix of some bitter, grainy hops and malts along with a sugary, caramel edge. The taste and mouthfeel of the beer just didn't come through as well for me though(who knows - bad tap line? old keg?) . There is a creaminess and smoothness to the beer, goes down easy but not watery, mind you, and there is some sweet caramel malt but it's either not enough or there are just too much hops because overall I found this beer to be grainy, sharp and a little bitter with a very dry finish. Maybe the ABV bled in a little or my beer had a touch of metallic taste but overall I'd say the sweetness was overpowered for a good but not great beer.

Slightly hazed, copper-amber appearance. The liquid was capped by a small, khaki colored head that deposited a thin sheet of patchy lacework along the glass.

The nose was sweet and fruity initially. Berry notes were apparent. Touch of caramel and biscuity malt sweetness. Surprisingly, as the beer warmed, the nose faded and all that was left was a dull maltiness.

Lots of interesting things happening in the flavor profile. Like the nose, it was sweet and fruity. Strong peach notes. Hints of orange zest. There was a robust caramel malt presence. Some discernible berry-like flavors. I thought I picked up strawberry notes. Moderately hoppy finish. The hops were crisp, piney and earthy. Overall, quite flavorful and remarkably well balanced. At 7.2% ABV, this drank remarkably well.

The mouthfeel was incredibly plush and smooth on the palate. Full bodied for the style.

Calling this beer a cream ale (or even an imperial cream ale) is a bit misleading, as it bares absolutely no resemblance to other versions of the style that I have sampled. Regardless, My Better Half really impressed me. If you appreciate unique beers that push boundaries, then definitely give this a shot.